Description

The Cunningham Park Southeast Preserve Trail has been designated a Forever Wild Preserve and takes the visitor through one of the most undisturbed natural areas in New York City, with a rare mature growth of red and black oak, tulip and hickory trees. The understory is abundant with native wildflowers, flowering dogwood and a large variety of ferns, such as sensitive, interrupted and the rare rattlesnake and maidenhair.The Preserve resides on the terminal moraine ridge left by the Wisconsin ice sheet. A visitor can reach one of the highest points along the ridge and view the lower areas to the south. Several of the ponds visible from the trail include kettle ponds created by the glacier. The ponds and woodlands provide wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities and are favorite spots for local birders.This trail connects with two significant, regional bicycle trails, the Cross Island Greenway and the Long Island (Vanderbilt) Motor Parkway. The Cross Island is an approximately six-mile greenway connecting northern and southern queens. The Motor Parkway has significant historic value and connects queens to eastern Long Island.Queens NY has been called one of the world's most ethnically diverse cities and the communitiesserved by Cunningham park reflect this portrayal.